Local environmental events and volunteering through sept |

Every Tuesday, 9am-3pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

Contact: Ashley Smithers at 503.451.0824 or asmithers@tnc.org.

Every Wednesday:

8-10am – Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Bird Walk

Meet at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Overlook at 8am, and join Phil Kelley from Black Hills Audubon Society for the entire walk or for as long as you wish.

3-6 pm – GRub Farm Drop-in Volunteer Session

(GRuB Farm; 2016 Elliott Ave NW; Olympia 98502) Volunteers support the GRuB Farm in weeding, transplanting, seeding and miscellaneous maintenance of the farm. We ask that anyone under 14 be accompanied by an adult. Visit http://www.goodgrub.org/volunteer ahead of time so you can fill out a volunteer interest form that you can bring with you.

6 pm – Budd Inlet Shoreline Walks

Want to know more about the downtown shoreline? Looking for something free to do with out-of-town guests? Take a leisurely walk in downtown Olympia with Stream Team’s Sound Stewards to learn about Budd Inlet, the Deschutes River and Capitol Lake. Learn about the ecology, geology and wildlife of Budd Inlet. Also learn some of the story of Olympia: why Budd Inlet needed to be dredged; why Capital Lake was created; where the original shoreline was; what’s happening now, and what’s in store for the future; and what your role is in helping Budd Inlet. Walks will be offered from May 28 through September 4 (unless it is pouring rain!). Walks will include Percival Landing boardwalk and part of Capitol Lake and Heritage Park—about one mile of flat walking terrain. The guided walk takes about 90 minutes. Just show up, or call/e-mail to make a reservation. Meet at Percival Landing next to 4th Avenue Bridge (by Bay View Thriftway)—look for the “Meet Here” sign. Please do not park in the Bayview Thriftway parking lot; there is plenty of free on-street parking nearby. Arrive 5-10 minutes early; walks start punctually. Special accommodations can be made for groups wanting a different time and/or date. Contact Patricia Pyle for information or reservations at ppyle@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-570-5841.

Every Thursday, 10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market

(700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)

Every Friday, 10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market

(700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)

Every Saturday:

9 am – 2 pm – West Olympia Farmers Market (Garfield Elementary bus loop, between the school and adjacent Woodruff Park, on Thomas Street.)

10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market (700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)

10 am – Budd Inlet Shoreline Walks (see details on Wednesday, above)

Every Sunday:

10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market (700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)

10 am – Budd Inlet Shoreline Walks (see details on Wednesday, above)

1-4 pm – GRub Farm Drop-in Volunteer Session

Youth Fisheries Academy Day Camps

Are you interested in fishing, hiking, camping and other outdoor recreation activities? Have you ever wondered how to take your love for the outdoors and make a career out of it? Get ready wet your hands because the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be providing three local single day camps this July. Activities include radio telemetry hide and seek, fish dissections, stream sampling and more!

Location Date Time Age Range Price

Olympia: Priest Point Park Fri, July 8 9am-3pm 11-15 Free!!

Olympia: Priest Point Park Sat, July 9 9am-3pm 11-15 Free!!

Lacey: Woodland Creek Park Wed, July 13 9am-3pm 11-15 $10

To register for the Olympia camps, contact Olympia Parks, Art & Recreation at 753-8380. To register for the Lacey camp, contact Lacey Parks & Recreation at 491-0857. For more information, contact Dan Spencer, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: (360) 753-9589, Daniel_Spencer@fws.gov.

Nisqually Reach Center Summer Camp

Nisqually Reach Center’s summer camp program provides hands-on activities to introduce campers between the ages of 7 and 14 to fundamental biological & ecological principles in a fun, science-based curriculum. For more information, go to www.nisquallyestuary.org/nrnc2011summercamp.html.

Volunteer with South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA)

Volunteers are needed to help SSEA do community outreach at the following events:

• August 27: Sand in the City

• September 24: Nisqually Watershed Festival

• October 2: Cruising for the Sound

To volunteer, contact Melanie at melanie@sseacenter.org.

Be a Purple Martin Nest Box Monitor!

Stream Team volunteers help monitor the bird’s nest boxes weekly for nesting activity and fledgling success. Once the Purple Martins have left for the season, volunteers also help clean the nest boxes, readying them once again for occupation in the spring. Monitoring is easy and takes only one hour per week. If you are interested in observing these amazing swallows, contact Michelle Stevie at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8336 for more information or to sign-up. Training will be provided. Call soon and begin monitoring!

Volunteers Needed to Staff a Stream Team Table at Local Beaches this Summer!

Do you enjoy talking to people? Do you want to help others learn about Stream Team or what they can do to help protect our streams and Puget Sound? Volunteer to staff a table at one of three local beaches this summer. South Sound Estuary Association is inviting local organizations to share information at Tolmie State Park, Burfoot County Park and Frye Cove County Park as part of their summer Beach Naturalist Program—which runs on Saturdays and Sundays from June through August. Stream Team will supply you with all you will need, such as hand-out materials, a Stream Team shirt (yours to keep), table and chair. This is an excellent way to reach out to our local community to help them learn how they can get involved in protecting and restoring our precious water resources! For more information, contact Ann Marie at 360-754-3355 ext. 6857 or email: finanam@co.thurston.wa.us

Thursday, June 30

4:30-7:30 pm – McLane Creek Nature Trail Maintenance

(Olympia) With the advent of warmer summer weather, plants are “waking up” and beginning to encroach on the popular nature trail at McLane Creek. Stream Team and WSU Native Plant Salvage Project are seeking volunteers to help trim plants and remove weeds along the trail. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress appropriately for the weather. Stream Team and WSU Native Plant Salvage Project will provide gloves and tools. Pizza will also be provided! Youth under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. For directions and to register, please contact Native Plant Salvage Project at 360-867-2166 or e-mail: nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com. This event will occur rain or shine.

6:00 – 9:00 pm – East Bay Weeding Work Party

For event details and to RSVP, contact Christina Donehower (People for Puget Sound) at cdonehower@pugetsound.org.

Friday July 1

9 am – 12 pm – Upland & Forest Habitat Restoration work party

(Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S. Tyler St; Tacoma) Join us for our regular stewardship activities as we care for the park by removing invasive plant species, re-planting areas with native plants and helping those plants thrive. No experience necessary – experienced habitat stewards will guide you through the projects. Come dressed for the weather and prepared to get dirty. Bring your own gloves and gardening gear or use what we provide. All ages are welcome, but children need to be supervised at all times by an adult. Work parties occur rain or shine! Call 253-591-6439 for more information.

Saturday, July 2

7-9 am – training on how to identify waterbirds in Tacoma

(Titlow Park, Tacoma) Join People For Puget Sound to learn about the different waterbirds that currently use Titlow Lagoon—a degraded estuary within the park—and how the waterbird community is expected to change in the future as a result of estuarine restoration plans. No experience is necessary. Wear sturdy footwear, dress for the weather, and bring your own water bottle, binoculars and a field guide, if you have them. Children ten and under should have adult supervision. For more information, contact Christina Donehower at 360-754-9177 ext. 183 or 253-380-7987, or at cdonehower@pugetsound.org.

9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Capitol Land Trust work party

(near the Evergreen State College, Olympia) Capitol Land Trust invites you to join us for a volunteer stewardship event at our conservation property on the Kaiser Property. We will be removing invasive plants, and cleaning up and mulching plantings. We will provide tools, gloves, water and snacks. Bring sturdy, waterproof shoes, rain gear, and weather-appropriate clothes. If you have tools and gloves of your own, we invite you to bring them as well. Students under 18 must have their parent or guardian sign a waiver form to participate. To RSVP and get directions, contact Guy Maguire at guym@capitollandtrust.org or 360-943-3012.

10am – 11:30am – It’s in Your Nature: Exploring the Wild

(Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge) From bitterns to butterflies, chickadees to crabapples, the Refuge is home to many types of wildlife. Join naturalist Donna Snow on a nature walk that is sure to teach you something new about the creatures of the Refuge. Meet in the Visitor Center. The program is free—although you do need to pay the Refuge entrance fee. For more information, contact the Refuge at (360) 753-9467. Directions: take I-5 exit 114, and follow signs to the Refuge.

Sunday, July 3

1pm – 3pm – Flourishing Flowers

(Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge) Summer is the perfect time to experience the refuge plant life is all its diversity! Come relish how wonderful Pacific Northwest summers are by joining Sally Vogel on a nature walk through the Refuge— all the while learning about plant identification, uses and other interesting facts. You only live once: Stop to smell the flowers! Meet in the Visitor Center. The program is free—although you do need to pay the Refuge entrance fee. For more information, contact the Refuge at (360) 753-9467. Directions: take I-5 exit 114, and follow signs to the Refuge.

Monday, July 4

Volunteers needed for Stream Team booth at Tumwater 4th of July Festival

This is a fun family event! The driving range of the Tumwater Valley Golf Course will be lined with activities such as bouncy houses, face painting, magic acts, music and much more. There will also be food vendors and a spectacular sky diving exhibit. The fantastic fireworks display starts at 10:15 pm. Come help out in the booth and stay for the rest of the fun! Volunteer shifts are 6:00-8:00 pm or 8:00-10:00 pm. To volunteer, contact Debbie at dmsmith@ci.tumwater.wa.us or 360-754-4148.

Tuesday, July 5

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

Don’t forget to bring sunblock, lunch, snacks, and gloves! Directions to Glacial Heritage: take I-5 to exit 95 (Littlerock exit), ~10 miles south of Olympia; go west through Littlerock to the T-intersection at Mima Road/ Waddell Creek; go south (left) on Mima Road for 2.7 miles, and take a left onto an unmarked gravel road (you will see a tractor sign, and then the turn). Please adhere to the 15 mph speed limit on this road, as there often are dogs and small children active nearby. Follow the road through the gate, and take the first right to get to the house. For more information, contact Ashley Smithers at 503.451.0824 or asmithers@tnc.org.

Wednesday July 6

7:00 – 8:00 pm – Secrets of the Snow Leopard

(Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center) Speaker: Tom McCarthy, Ph.D.—Executive Director, Snow Leopard Program Panthera, Partners in Wild Cat Conservation. The lecture is free, and the Refuge entrance fee is waived for those attending the lecture. Attendance is limited to seats available: seating begins at 6pm on a first-come basis, and you must be present to obtain a seat. For more information, contact the Refuge at (360) 753-9467. Directions: take I-5 exit 114, and follow signs to the Refuge.

Thursday July 7

5:30 pm – public hearing on Thurston County’s interim prairie regulations

(Room 129, Building 2 of the Thurston County Courthouse; 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW; Olympia 98502) Thurston County’s Interim Prairie and Oak Woodlands Conservation Ordinance, enacted in 2009, must be renewed for another 6 months until this and other provisions are finalized in the revised Critical Areas Ordinance, slated for enactment in early 2012. South Puget Sound prairies and white oak woodlands are vanishing rapidly. These areas provide important habitat for at least ten animal species in greatest conservation need. Furthermore, only about 8% of the original Puget Sound prairie still supports grassland vegetation, and only about 2%-3% is still dominated by native prairie vegetation. Less than 1% of the remaining South Sound prairie is protected in parks and reserves. A statewide property rights group is pouring resources into a confusing anti-environment effort, claiming that it’s about “bugs, weeds, and rodents.” In reality, it’s about clean water, clean air, and protecting our county’s precious natural treasures and vanishing wildlife habitat. If you are concerned about preserving the few remaining prairies in South Puget Sound, you should attend this important public hearing. For more information, check out these websites: www.co.thurston.wa.us/planning/prairieoak/prairieoak_home.htm; www.gothurston.org; and www.co.thurston.wa.us/planning/critical_areas/docs/powerpoints/misconceptions.pdf.

Saturday July 9

8:30am – 12 noon – Birds of a Feather: Take Flight on a Bird Walk

(Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge) Experience the thrill of seeing a Peregrine Falcon (the world’s fastest bird) or of hearing a woodpecker pecking away (up to 20 pecks per second)! Join birder Dave Richardson, an expert who knows the ins and outs of birding at Nisqually, for a bird walk full of the sights and sounds of one of the refuge’s largest treasures (the birds!) Meet in the Visitor Center. The program is free—although you do need to pay the Refuge entrance fee. For more information, contact the Refuge at (360) 753-9467. Directions: take I-5 exit 114, and follow signs to the Refuge.

10am – 3pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

We will be meeting at Glacial Heritage, and mainly collecting seed. Other activities that day include pulling broom, cleaning seeds, and organizing seed collection materials. We will end the day at 3pm with a snack pot luck. Please join us and feel free to bring a snack to share. Please make sure to bring gloves, a lunch, rain gear, etc. Please let Ashley (503.451.0824 or asmithers@tnc.org) know if you are coming so she can plan accordingly. Directions to Glacial Heritage: take I-5 to exit 95 (Littlerock exit), ~10 miles south of Olympia; go west through Littlerock to the T-intersection at Mima Road/ Waddell Creek; go south (left) on Mima Road for 2.7 miles, and take a left onto an unmarked gravel road (you will see a tractor sign, and then the turn). Please adhere to the 15 mph speed limit on this road, as there often are dogs and small children active nearby. Follow the road through the gate, and take the first right; when the road forks, stay to the left to get to the house.

6:30 pm – If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front

(Capitol Theater; 206 5th Avenue SE; Olympia 98501) With fires blazing into the darkest night, the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) spent years protesting environmental atrocities in the most effective way it knew how: through destruction of property. In the documentary If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, the origins and the rise and fall of this inflammatory organization is explored through the story of a former member who is now faced with life in prison for the damage he caused in the name of the ELF. Through interviews and archival footage, the history of this secretive group is exposed, uncovering an organization born out of the gradual disregard of the protest movement and its sheer desperation to be heard in a world continually dominated by corporate culture. From well-publicized cases of arson, to the WTO protests in Seattle, If a Tree Falls reveals how the ELF etched themselves into the headlines, but paid the price with their sheer audacity.

Sunday July 10

1pm – 3pm – Flourishing Flowers

4-6pm – Summer Salads

(GRuB Farmhouse; 2016 Elliott Ave NW, Olympia 98502) We’ll creatively put together all the best that the summer bounty has to offer while celebrating texture & colors. There is a $5 non-refundable registration fee per class/per person, and pre-registration is required. You can register online at www.OlympiaFood.coop, or in-person between 11 am and 6 pm at either Olympia Food Co-op store (3111 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia 98501; or 921 Rogers St NW, Olympia 98502).

5:00 pm – If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front